Improvement in railroad-switches



c. c. COATS.

- Railroad-Switch.

Patented Sept. 7,1875.

/6- nmzzz 4 mwwfzj N. PETERS. FHOTO-LJTHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

CHANDLER G. COATS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent ITO/167,499., datedSeptember 7, 1875; application filed August 26, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHANDLER U. COATS, of the city of Newark, in thecounty of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Railway-Switches; and] do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled. in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The nature and object of this invention is to facilitate the operatingof railway-switches, and prevent accidental displacement of the same.

My invention consists in certain devices by means of which the switchtracks or rails, when moved by a switch-tender from the main to a sidetrack, are readjusted to the main track automatically, and retained insuch position firmly and im movably until changed by a switchman.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a switchcombining and illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofthe same, taken through lines at a: and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail viewsof detached portions of the same.

The rails lettered Ain Fig. 1 are the switchrails shown in their normalposition, connecting with the main-track rails A, and those lettered Bare diverging track -rails, all of which are constructed and arranged inthe ordinary manner, and constitute no part of my invention, which, asabove stated, relates more especially to the means and manner ofoperating the switch, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. Therails A are held in their proper positions with relation to each otherby means of a strap, 0, which is riveted or otherwise secured to therails A, or to the bar 0, which extends about four feet horizontallyfrom and at right angles with said rails A, and rests upona suitablesupport, D, shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of said rod or bar 0, whenit extends across and unites the rails A, though this is not necessary,is pivoted to a rod or bar, E; or the latter may be pivoted to the bar0, and its opposite end connected to a crank, F, and actuated by avertical shaft, F, by means of a lever, G, better shown and illustratedin Fig. 2. Said shaft F has its bearings in suitable supportsH and H,illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. An arm, I, is pivoted to the lever G,which, when the rails A are in their normal position-that is, in linewith the main-track railsfalls automatically in a groove, to, in thetable or support H, best shown and illustrated in Fig. 4, and locks andholds said rails A in such position, preventing accidental displacementthereof, as will be obvious. The automatic adjustment of the switch issecured by means of weights J, buffers e, and spring 6, and theirconnections, in the following manner, viz: The weights J are eachsecured to a bent or curved arm, K, pivoted at or near their centersupon a suitable support, K, said arms engaging with suitable lugs at onthe bar 0', and operate as will be hereinafter set forth. The lever G,when moved to the right or left to change the switch from the main to adiverging track, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, comes in contact withbuffers e actuated by springs e, which, when the lever is released, actsupon said lever, giving it a sudden start backward, and one of the armsK being in contact with a lug, d, on the bar 0, by means of the weightJ, which has been raised by the previous changing of the switch, asindicated in Fig. 2, forces the switch back into its normal positionconnecting with the rails of the main track. Attached to the lever G, asan additional safeguard, is a stop-pin, f, actuated by a spring, f,which the switohman, with his hand, )resses down behind afriction-roller, g, pivoted into a recess in the table H, for thepurpose of holding the lever G in position, and when released frompressure said spring f forces the pin f out of gear with said roller,thereby releasing the lever G, and the switch, as before stated, im-

mediately resumes its normal position. The weights J, arms K, support K,850., should be suitably inclosed and sheltered from the weather, asalso the buffers c and springs c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a railway-switch, the com bination, with the rails A, of the bar0, having the lugs d,

the weighted arms or levers K pivoted to suitable supports K, whenoperating substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

2. The combination, with the rails A, of the rod or bar E, crank F,shaft F, lever G, buffers e, and springs 6, when operating substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth and shown.

3. The combination of the lever G, stop-pin f actuated by spring f, and.friction-rollers g,

arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forthand shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affixhereto my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHANDLER O. COATS.

Witnesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, J. G. TUNBRDJGE.

